Summary

The Leung family leads a life of secluded luxury in Hong Kong. But in December 1941, the Empire of Japan invades the colony. The family is quickly dragged into a spiral of violence, repression, and starvation. To survive, they entomb themselves and their friends in the Leung mansion. But this is only a temporary reprieve, and the Leungs are forced to send their children away. The youngest boy, Chung-Man, escapes with some of his siblings, and together they travel deep into the countryside to avoid the Japanese invaders. But when the Japanese arrive, Chung-Man is once again taken captive, entering a new cycle of violence and punishment until he finally breaks free and returns to Hong Kong. Deeply scarred, Chung-Man drifts, enveloped by the unspoken vestiges of war. It is only as he leaves home once again that he finally glimpses a way to keep living with his troubled and divided self.